The Gospel According to Tim Keller Part 4: Marxism

In this post the progressive, Marxist ideology that drives Keller’s false gospel will be further examined, as his perverted understanding of the church and the Great Commission must be exposed.

Question: “What is the church?”

Answer: Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly of believers” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend, they usually identify a building, but Romans 16:5 says “… greet the church that is in their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building, but a body of believers.

In this short video clip (1.13 mins) Keller makes his position clear on the nature and embodiment of “the church”- it is completely opposite of scripture and very telling from start to finish:

In one minute and 13 seconds Tim Keller completely dismantles God’s truth regarding the very definition of the church and continues his assault on scripture by claiming the Apostle Paul as his source. Scripture denounces such nonsense, as Keller’s false statements are blown out of the water by none other than the Apostle Paul himself.

Keller tells us that “pragmatically” speaking we must acknowledge that the bible gives us “all this freedom” in the church to do whatever we want, but Paul makes clear to Timothy that the Holy scriptures will furnish him completely with all he needs for faithful ministry:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Paul warns the church in Corinth, instructing them to hold every thought “captive” to the scriptures:

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we hold every thought captive in obedience to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

captive imprisoned by: to be enslaved or dominated; slave

throughly completely; fully; wholly; without reserve and sincerely

furnished to be a source of; provide

Holding every thought captive and being throughly furnished are clearly the polar opposite of Keller’s notion of “all this freedom.” Keller continues by telling his audience how to use “all this freedom” in the church:

“…that means in the church we should use this freedom to ask, not oh, how can we get our way? But instead, if you’re the mature ones, how do we have a church not for ourselves but for non-Christians? How do we have a church not for ourselves but for the poor”…..

Folks…this is blatant heresy. The answer from God’s word is that there is no such thing as a church for non-Christians; the biblical definition of the word church is “the called out ones” ~ “a body of believers.” And there is no such thing as a church for the materially poor. Keller continues:

“…you see, the people running a church tend to be…not poor; they tend to be doctrinally more well-schooled. They certainly tend to be Christians”……..

Yes, Dr. Keller, they do TEND to be Christians……? It is quite obvious that Tim Keller has serious concerns with the tendency of churches to have doctrinally trained Christians in charge because they’re just not accepting of an unbelieving church! He continues and it only gets worse:

“…as a result when they look at non-Christians, when they look at the poor…Paul says they should be driven to say I’m gonna do everything in my church for them, not for me! Don’t build a church for yourselves…build a church that is not necessarily alien to the people around you who are not like you.”

According to Dr. Tim Keller, Paul says mature believers understand that the church is for unbelievers and materially poor people. He teaches his large audiences all over the world that the Apostle Paul taught that the church is for people who are “not like us”, in other words not believers. Really? No.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

This anti-Christian synopsis paints a crystal-clear picture of the mission and intent of Dr. Tim Keller. From his false assertion that scripture allows immense freedom in the church to his insistence that doctrinally well-trained Christians must learn to accept all people into the church regardless of what they believe. Keller insists upon the entrance of materially poor people into the church not based on what they believe- but based solely on the fact that they are poor!

Please do not miss the subtle language manipulation Keller repeatedly displays as he deliberately mischaracterizes the biblical definition of the church, as well as the true believer who is committed to the scriptural guidelines of a true church. Keller intentionally demeans the clear teaching of Christ and His apostles by labeling those in pursuit of the biblical definition of a church as building a church for yourself and seeking to get your own way! Absolutely preposterous. According to Keller, we must build a church for all people, not just believers. And this delusional pastor lays every blasphemous word at the feet of the Apostle Paul- who actually said:

”And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

The faithful apostle would have anathematized Keller’s heresy, as Paul had this highly esteemed “theologian” pegged way back when:

”That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Ephesians 4:13-14

At the heart of Keller’s false theology are the ideas that the Great Commission is a call to social action; salvation is a collective event that serves the purpose of cultural renewal and the church’s “commission” is social justice; which is to solve the world’s social problems and eradicate poverty.

Once this is understood you gain a real understanding of his redefinition of the church as an organized community of diverse peoples (not limited to believers in Christ) with different faith backgrounds and moral beliefs coming together in service to their communities for the common good of humanity, primarily by means of redistribution of wealth- otherwise known as Marxism. To understand this is to understand the danger and threat of Tim Keller and his many organizations.

Dr. Keller’s perversion of the church and the Great Commission will be further exposed in the next post.

Even a dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. John Calvin (1509-1564)

Keep up the work exposing the heretics and compromising ministers that are so numerous today. Jude 1:4, Gal 2:4, Titus 1:16. I wonder what Luther would have to say today with all the false teachings that are escalating in so many churches?